Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Thug viciously bit ear of stranger in city pub
A MAN chewed off part of a stranger’s ear in a random attack in a Dundee pub.
Steven Drummond attacked two people after patrons had tried to lock him out of the pub.
One man was punched to the floor of Harlequins on Albert Street, straddled and strangled before Drummond rounded on another and bit off a chunk of his ear.
When police arrived, a bloodsoaked witness on the street told them: “Get in there – he’s going to kill folk.”
At Dundee Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Lora Apostolova said: “At around 10.45pm, the accused entered the bar, visibly angry and talking on the phone. He left the bar by the left exit.
“People in the pub locked the left exit over concern that Drummond would return.
“The accused entered the locus through the main entrance.”
He sat at a table with a pair of couples who had been enjoying a night out and addressed one of the men.
The man tried to explain he and Drummond did not know each other, but Drummond kept asking who he was.
Ms Apostolova said: “Out of nowhere, Drummond punched him to the ground, straddled him and began to strangle him.”
Terrified onlookers attempted to pull Drummond off the man, but he rounded on another man and bit him on the head.
“Such was the force of his bite that part of the ear was torn off,” said Ms Apostolova.
Police arrived shortly after 11pm and struggled to apprehend Drummond, who tensed his body and tried to lash out, kicking an officer on the right thigh as they tried to get him into a police van.
Drummond was cautioned and charged at Ninewells Hospital.
The court was told the bite victim has trouble sleeping and experiences intense pain due to the exposed nerves endings of his permanently disfigured ear.
“Police recovered part of the ear and brought it to the hospital, but it could not be attached,” Ms Apostolova said.
Another victim had to attend a clinic to treat the laceration on his nose.
Drummond pled guilty to three assaults.
Defending solicitor Jim Laverty told the court Drummond had longstanding issues with alcohol addiction.
Mr Laverty said his client was “most remorseful” for his actions and apologised to the injured parties.
The court heard Drummond, 34, began drinking after a period of sobriety, which affected his judgment.
“He has literally no recollection of Harlequins,” said Mr Laverty.
He pointed to Drummond’s attempts at rehabilitation and mentoring other people who are similarly “stricken” with addiction.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael ordered a background report ahead of sentencing next month.
Drummond, whose address was given as HMP Perth, was remanded.